Lisbon Mind & Reasoning RIP Seminar 

Av. de Berna, I&D Building, ID 0.06

Gloria Andrada de Gregorio, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain

An enculturated approach to knowledge-how

In this paper I put forward an account of knowledge-how according to which knowing how to φ is constituted by the possession of an ability or group of abilities that allow one to successfully φ. In this regard, my position can be located within the anti-intellectualistic framework. Nevertheless, I am going to part from what has become the standard version anti-intellectualism by claiming that abilities can be constituted by self-corrective practices, which include the consideration of self-regulatory propositions. One of the most powerful challenges that my position faces is the criticism that by including linguistic self-corrective practices, I am defending a hidden form of intellectualism. Against this view, I am going to show that this challenge emerges from a pervasive dualistic conception of mind and action where propositional thinking and embodied skills are still conceptualized as two isolated realms. I am going to argue that once we attend to the process of enculturation we can accept that this type of linguistic self-regulating practices constitute some of our abilities to do something and they are dynamically entangled in action. Furthermore, the active role of structured cognitive niches will allow me to explain intelligent action without over-intellectualizing it.  

All welcome.

Organised by the Lisbon Mind & Reasoning Group (a sub-section of the ArgLab)